Electric heating attachment for hot-water bags and the like



May 11,1926. 1,584.106

- M. C. LEVINSON ELECTRIC HEATING ATTACHMENT FOR HOT WATER BAGS AND THE-LIKE Filed Marbh 24. 1925 INVENTOR. MAURICE C- LEV\NSHN M v ATTORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES MAURICE CHAELES LEVINSON, AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT TO KEEP-HOT STOPIER CO., OF LONG BEACH, CALI- EORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Application filed March 24, 1925. Serial No. 17,908.

This invention relates to a combined hot water bag closure plug and electrical liquid heating device.

An important object is to provide a screw stopper for hot water bags carrying an electrical heating element adapted to be actuated by the temperature of the liquid in the a bag when attached thereto.

A further object is to provide a device that is of simple form, one that may be economically manufactured, and is unlikely to become disorganized.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification, reference being made to the drawings accompanying the same, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the upper end of a hot water bag of usual form, showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2' is a side elevation of the closure plug carrying the heating device- Fig. 3 is a top plan view. of the same. v Broadly the invention consists in forming atapered screw plug formed of porcelain, or other suitable insulating material,

- the plug being provided. with a pair of electrodes, one formed of a highly expansible and contractible metal, such as aluminum, and the other of an, approximately nonexpansible and contractible metal, provision being made in the upper end of the closure plug for detachably connecting the electrodes to a. source of electrical energy.

Referring more particularly to the draw- 'ings, and especially to Fig. 1, 5 designates the upper end of a rubber hot water bag having, a screw threaded liquid fillingport 6 in the upperend thereof of usual form, an

annular fi ling guard 7 projecting upwardly from the port designed to prevent a spilling of the liquid when introduced to the bag. "The bag cldsure stopper 8, is preferably formed of an electrical insulating material, such as porcelain, its body 9 being tapered from. its upper end downwardly and is exteriorly threaded. Formed integrally with its up 'er end is a knob 10 of less diameter than t e body exteriorly knurled toprovide a convenient finger hold when inserting or removing the plug from the filling port.

Disposed in the preferably castintegral therewith, are a pair of electrodes 11, 12, electrode 11 being 'pref-. erably formed of aluminum, which when tween-the ga body of the plug 8, and,

- wall. Electrode 11 extends into this recess,

its lower end being bent at right angles to its vertical portion, and terminates adjacent the lower end of the bronze electrode 12. The lower ends of the electrodes are normally spaced about one-eighth of an inch apart so that the electric current will readily flow from one to the other when the device is connected to a source of electric energy. The knurled extension or knob 10, is provided with two vertically disposed sockets 16, 17,. which are formed directly above the upper ends of the electrodes, spring contact fingers 18, 19, are disposed in said sockets and connected with theelectrodes. It will be understood that any well known form of an electric socket construction may be employed in lieu of the one illustrated if desired.

An electric plug 20 having a pair of metal contact terminals 21, 22, projecting from its lower end is connected to the closure plug 8, the terminals engaging the spring contact fingers 18, 19, and thus completing the electric circuit through the electrodes, the upper ends of the contact terminals within the plug being secured to flexible insulated conducting wires 23, the free ends of said wires having an electric plug 24 of usual form which may be attached to a socket 25 secured in the wall of a dwelling.

When it is desired to use the bag it is first filled with water heated to a high temperature, the closure plug is then screwed into position, and plug 20 is then connected thereto. As the heated liquid in the bag contacts with the aluminum electrode 11, the same will quickly expand in a downward direction, the collar 26 formed adjacent the upper end preventing an upward expansion of the same, and, increase the distance be of said electrodes from-oneeighth of an inch to about one-quarter of an inch. When the electrodes are in. this condition substantially no current will pass the ap between the electrodes, as the water in which the lower eiidof the closure'plug is mum submerged will offer a substantial resistance to the passage of the electrical current.. As the water cools the aluminum electrodes will contact and thereby reduce the distance between the gap and allow it to flow through the circuit, the cool water around the gap being heated by the passage of the current therebetween. The current will continue to heat the water until its temperature rises sufliciently high as to cause an expansion of the electrode 11*,thi1s increasing the gap and closing the flow of current, as first explainod.

From the above it will be observed that I electric water heater comprising a body have produced an extremely simple and efficient device for heating the water in hot water bags and like structures, and as the water in the bag furnishes the required re-- sistance to the passage of current, it will be apparent that the temperature of the water will be constantlymaintained at the maxidegree. i

What I claim is: v

1. In an electrical heater for hot water bags, the combination of a hot Water bag having a filling port, a stopper formed of an insulating material-adapted to detachably en gage said filling port to close the end thereof to form a gap th'erebetween, one.

of said electrodes being formed of an expansible metal and theother of said electrodes being formed of a' non-expansible metal, whereby When the expansible electrode is heated the same will expand to increase the gap therebetwe'en and open the circuit to the'flow of electric current therethrough, and means to detachably connect said electrodes to a source of electrical energy. I

1 2. A combination Water bag stopper'and member formed of an electric insulating material, a pair of electrodes mounted therein, their lower ends disposed to form a gap therebetween, one of said electrodes being formed of an expansible metal and the other of a substantially non-expansible metal, and

means for connecting said electrodes to asource of electrical energy.

In witness that I claim the foregoing'I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of February, 1925.

MAURICE CHARLES LEvINsoir. 

